Bottom protector and reinforcing means for bottle cases



- Feb. 4, 1941. J. F. MAURER, JR 2,230,650

BOTTOM PROTECTOR AND REINFORCING MEANS FOR BOTTLE CASES Filed Dec. 6, 1938 a A? A w M BY J hIZJXZlU'g/n 24 Z I 2/ g j Patented Feb. 4, 1941 STATES TENT orrics BOTTOM PROTECTOR AND REINFORCING MEANS FOR BOTTLE CASES 2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to box structures and refers more particularly to an improved protecting and reinforcing means for the lower edges of the side and end walls of milk bottle 5 cases or the like and especially those provided with corner units of the type disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent, No. 2,034,440, granted March 17, 1936.

The present invention broadly comprehends 10 protecting and reinforcing means for the lower edges of the side and end walls of a bottle case which is fashioned from a single unitary piece of material and which is so constructed and arranged as to provide smooth, unbroken, stream- 15 lined surfaces thereby avoiding edges or projections which would tend to catch or interlock with each other or interfere with the proper conveyance of the cases on conveyor systems which are now generally used in large dairies and bottling 20 plants.

The invention further resides in a protecting and reinforcing means of the indicated character which is constructed and arranged to interlock or interengage with corner units of the type dis- 25 closed in the aforesaid prior patent.

As a further feature the invention comprehends a protecting and reinforcing means of the character set forth which possesses greater strength in proportion to the gage of material used, which may be economically produced, which is easier to handle and more readily installed and which is more efiicient than those previously employed.

With the above enumerated and other objects in View, the invention is set forth in greater detail in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the underside of a bottle case provided with a bottom protecting and reinforcing means construct- 40 ed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom reinforcing means removed from the case.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 45 3-4. of Fi 1.

Fig. 4' is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of the lower end portion of the outer element of one of 50 the corner units.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, A and B designate generally the side and end walls of a bottle case which are illustra ed in the present disclosure as made up of a plu-v M rality of wooden slats although it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention the said walls may be made of a single panel if so desired.

The walls A and B are connected to each other by corner units which include inner and outer angulated elements It] and II which are releasably secured in assembled relation with the case walls by means of a wire or rod I2 which extends through loops l3 directed inwardly from the outer corner elements and received in slots M in the inner corner elements as set forth in my prior United States Letters Patent, No. 2,034,440. In the present instance, the outer element ll of each corner unit is offset outwardly as at l5 and the lower edge of said offset portion is provided with inwardly directed web it located between the lower perforated arms ll which also receive the securing rod or wire l2.

In lieu of the individual channel-shaped runners or strips which have heretofore been employed for protecting and reinforcing the lower edges of the side and end walls of the case, the present invention comprehends a protecting and reinforcing frame, designated generally by the reference character C, which is fashioned from a single unitary piece of material, preferably a flat piece of sheet metal which is blanked and formed as shown to provide integral side and end rails I8 and IQ of channel-shaped construction, each including inner and outer side flanges 20 and 2| joined by a web or bight portion 22. The inner and outer flanges at their juncture with the webor bight portion 22 are preferably rounded and merge into each other to present a smooth, unbroken surface, while the said flanges of the side 5 and end rails l8 and I9 at their juncture with each other are rounded and merge into each other to present smooth, unbroken surfaces.

The outer flanges 2| of the side and end rails I8 and 19 at their juncture with each other are cut away as at 23 for approximately half of their height and the cut away portions are formed with inwardly offset tongues 24 which, at their juncture with the flanges, are provided with rounded, outwardly offset vertical beads 25.

The protecting and reinforcing frame C is applied so as to fit over the lower edges of the side and end walls A and B with the inwardly offset tongues 24 disposed within the outwardly offset lower ends of the outer angulated elements ll of the corner units and with the inwardly directed web l6 and the arms I! received between the upper edges of the cut away portions 23 and the tongues 24, the vertical rounded beads 25 lying alongside of the free edges of the offset portions 5;

of the outer elements H. The protecting and reinforcing frame C is also secured to the walls of the case by the usual bottle supporting rods 21 and by the rivets 28 which secure the center cross brace 29 in place.

From this construction and arrangement it will be appreciated that the bottom of the case is thus protected and reinforced by'a frame which presents continuous smooth, unbroken, streamlined surfaces, avoiding any sharp corners, edges or protrusions which would permit of interlocking engagement or interference with the cases on conveyor systems, thereby permitting of the feeding of the cases by said conveyors without jamming.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bottle case having vertical side and end walls and corner units connecting said Walls including inner and outer angulated elements, the latter having outwardly offset lower ends, a protecting and reinforcing means for the lower edges of said walls comprising a frame formed of a single unitary sheet of material including integral cross sectionally channel-shaped side and end rails formed with inner and outer flanges embracing the lower edges of said walls, the outer flanges being cut away and slotted at their corners forming a pair of opposed tongues at each corner and said tongues being offset inwardly and interfitted with and against the inner surfaces of the outwardly offset lower ends of the outer elements of the corner units, and with the lower portion of the outer element of each corner unit disposed within the recessed corner areas of the frame provided by the inward offsetting of the tongues to thereby dispose the outer surface of the lower ends of the corner units substantially flush with the outer surface of the outer flange of the frame, and the lower ends of the outer elements having inbent continuous flanges fitted in the slots.

2. In a bottle case having vertical side and end walls and corner units connecting said walls including inner and outer angulated elements, the latter having outwardly offset lower ends, a protecting and reinforcing means for the lower edges of said walls. comprising a frame formed of a single unitary sheet of material including integral cross sectionally channel-shaped side and end rails formed with inner and outer flanges embracing the lower edgs of said walls, the outer flanges being cut away and slotted at their corners forming a pair of opposed tongues at each corner and said tongues being offset inwardly and interfitted with and against the inner surfaces of the outwardly offset lower ends of the outer elements of the corner units, and with the lower portion of the outer element of each corner unit disposed within the recessed corner areas of the frame provided by the inward offsetting of the tongues to thereby dispose the outer surface of the lower ends of the corner units substantially flush with the outer surface of the outer flange of the frame, and the lower ends of the outer elements having inbent continuous flanges fitted in the slots, and vertical outwardly convex beads formed at the juncture of the tongues with the flanges to shield the side edges of the ofiset lower ends of the outer elements of the corner units. JOIN F. MAURER, JR. 

